THE annual Diturupa carnival which was halted two years ago following the outbreak of Covid-19 made a colourful return when more than a dozen troupes converged to pit their skills against one another at the Makapanstad Sports Ground in Makapanstad on Boxing Day.
Local residents Mmutle Tabane, Tshegofatso Tabane, Kgothatso Mbonani and Modise Ramangane joined the spectacle and caught the action on camera.
The tradition dates back to the days following the end of World War I when scores of men recruited to serve on the side of the Allied Forces returned to their villages in 1918.
The tradition has endured since then and attracts thousands of spectators each year as dance troupes march through the streets before converging at the dusty sport ground to show off their dance and choreography skills.
The event staged by community empowerment group Matla-a-Sechaba featured 19 troupes from Makapanstand and the neighbouring villages of Dertig, Tladistad and Moretele.
The North-West Department of Tourism (DoT), the provincial Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) and Department of Health (DoH) also took part in the event as part of promoting tourism and culture.
The Department of Health used the opportunity to continue their vaccination campaign for measles to counter an outbreak which was announced by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Bojanala District sector South African Police Services (SAPS), Emergency and Medical Services (EMS), and Road, Community and Safety (Traffic) joined hands with Maatla-a-Sechaba.
There were four prize winners with the winning groups receiving a floating trophy and 15 of the 19 groups that participated in the event received a shopping voucher worth R2500.
Further reading on Diturupa:
Tiro e ntle tota. It’s good to have our own sharing and making sure that we understand where the concept is coming from. Weldone to all the troops and our own media personnel